Domestic Abuse

Last week I was having my hair braided in the front yard when Mothopi's father began beating his wife in the path in front of the house. At least ten people must have witnessed the event and for a good 3 minutes no one did anything but watch as he ripped her shirt and continually slapped her. Eventually, my host mom and dad yelled a few things, and after he got in a few more punches, he stopped and walked away leaving her sobbing on the ground.

She then got up and came into our yard where she sat down and everyone else basically ignored her for twenty minutes: no comforting her, no calling the police, etc. Eventually, when people decided she was no longer "tainted" they questioned her. She told them that she had wanted to go and visit her auntie but he wouldn't let her because he was having an affair with the woman next door to her auntie and didn't want his wife to confront her.

Later I asked Mapula why no one had done anything and she said it was because they were married so it wasn't anyone else's business.